This Week in the BIG EAST - Weekly Overview of NCAA College Basketball's Top Conference

John Rooke & Kevin McNamara
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  • BASKETBALL
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

Now in its 12th season, This Week In The BIG EAST, hosted by Kevin McNamara and John Rooke, is the official podcast of BIG EAST basketball. Kevin, radio host, columnist and author, and John, a longtime play-by-play broadcaster, have combined to cover BIG EAST basketball for over 60 years. The show is a comprehensive look at the teams, coaches, players and storied tradition of the top basketball conference in America, welcoming guests from around the league. #TWITBE also brings sounds of the games – past and present – through @BIGEASTmbb game audio highlights from Butler, UConn, Creighton, DePaul, Georgetown, Marquette, Providence, St. John’s, Seton Hall, Villanova and Xavier. Each episode, John (@JRbroadcaster) and Kevin (@KevinMcNamara33) recap the latest news in the BIG EAST and preview what’s to come. Post questions to John and Kevin on X while tagging #TWITBE. 

  1. 6D AGO

    #TWITBE EP. 12.10 - Val Ackerman, Dan Hurley and Jordan Cornette

    NEW YORK -- BIG EAST Commissioner Val Ackerman, UConn head coach Dan Hurley, and Peacock television analyst Jordan Cornette are the guests on the 10th episode of This Week in the BIG EAST.  Now in its 12th season, This Week in the BIG EAST (#TWITBE) is distributed by Westwood One radio and is available wherever you listen to your favorite podcasts.   This week's BIG EAST Focus is Commissioner Val Ackerman, who previews the 44th playing of the BIG EAST Tournament at Madison Square Garden, the state of the conference as a power player in an ever-changing college sports landscape, and how the league continues to be at the forefront of innovation and growth when it comes to college basketball. This week's BIG EAST Spotlight shines on UConn head coach Dan Hurley.  The 2024 Naismith National Coach of the Year gives an assessment of his Huskies' squad as it wraps up the regular season and prepares for a run toward the program's third national title in the last four years, while opening up about the special moment between him and UConn forward Alex Karaban on Senior Day. For the National Perspective, Peacock analyst and former BIG EAST standout Jordan Cornette talks about the league as it prepares for deep runs into March, who could be a surprise in New York City next week, and the impact the BIG EAST has made on him and his family as his late brother Joel is set to be honored as part of the conference's Legends program. This Week in the BIG EAST is hosted by John Rooke, a longtime play-by-play voice in the league, and Kevin McNamara, radio host, columnist, author, and U.S. Basketball Writers' Hall of Famer.  The show will run through the end of the 2025-26 regular season, providing a comprehensive look at the teams, coaches, players, and storied tradition of the top basketball conference in America in each episode. To join the conversation and send questions to Rooke (@JRbroadcaster) and McNamara (@KevinMcNamara33), use #TWITBE on Twitter. Fans may submit questions to be featured on the show.  Please subscribe, rate and review to keep #TWITBE top of the podcast charts.

    45 min

  2. FEB 27

    #TWITBE EP. 12.9 - Greg McDermott, N.J. Benson and Vin Parise

    Creighton head coach Greg McDermott, DePaul forward N.J. Benson, and FOX television and St. John's radio analyst Vin Parise are the guests on the ninth episode of This Week in the BIG EAST.  Now in its 12th season, This Week In The BIG EAST (#TWITBE) is distributed by Westwood One radio and is available wherever you listen to your favorite podcasts.   This week's BIG EAST Spotlight shines on Creighton head coach Greg McDermott.  Now in his 16th season at the helm of the Bluejays, McDermott joins the show to discuss his squad's season so far and their prospects for moving forward into Madison Square Garden and beyond.   This week's BIG EAST Focus features DePaul forward N.J. Benson.  The senior has played a major role in the Blue Demons' resurgence while leading the country in dunks.  Benson touches on the 2025-26 season and what DePaul looks to accomplish in March. For the National Perspective, FOX and St. John's radio analyst Vin Parise gives his perspective on the league as it takes over New York City in a few weeks, including a closer look at a potential third meeting between UConn and St. John's, the mentality of a coach this time of year, and all things BIG EAST. This Week in the BIG EAST is hosted by John Rooke, a longtime play-by-play voice in the league, and Kevin McNamara, radio host, columnist, author, and U.S. Basketball Writers' Hall of Famer.  The show will run through the end of the 2025-26 regular season, providing a comprehensive look at the teams, coaches, players, and storied tradition of the top basketball conference in America in each episode. To join the conversation and send questions to Rooke (@JRbroadcaster) and McNamara (@KevinMcNamara33), use #TWITBE on Twitter. Fans may submit questions to be featured on the show.  Please subscribe, rate and review to keep #TWITBE top of the podcast charts.

    45 min

  3. FEB 20

    #TWITBE EP. 12.8 - Ed Cooley, Tre Carroll and Tarik Turner

    Georgetown head coach Ed Cooley, Xavier forward Tre Carroll, and Fox and Peacock television analyst and former St. John's standout Tarik Turner are the guests on the eighth episode of This Week in the BIG EAST.  Now in its 12th season, This Week In The BIG EAST (#TWITBE) is distributed by Westwood One radio and is available wherever you listen to your favorite podcasts.   This week's BIG EAST Spotlight shines on Georgetown head coach Ed Cooley.  Having spent the past 15 seasons in the league at Georgetown and Providence, the veteran head coach thinks anyone can make a run at Madison Square Garden at the BIG EAST Tournament.  Hot off a recent five-game win streak, Cooley has his Hoyas' squad ready to close out the regular season on a high note entering into the postseason. This week's BIG EAST Focus is Xavier's high-scoring forward Tre Carroll.  In his first season in Cincinnati, Carroll leads the BIG EAST in scoring at 18.4 points per game.  Carroll joins the show and talks about his career run, spending three seasons at Florida Atlantic prior to joining the Musketeers.  Carroll was a key part of the Owls' improbable Final Four run in 2023 and was an all-conference performer during his time at FAU. For the National Perspective, Fox and Peacock television analyst Tarik Turner talks all things BIG EAST, as his alma mater - St. John's - has emerged at the top of the league standings in mid-February.  He talks about his thoughts on the season so far as the month of March quickly approaches. This Week in the BIG EAST is hosted by John Rooke, a longtime play-by-play voice in the league, and Kevin McNamara, radio host, columnist, author, and U.S. Basketball Writers' Hall of Famer.  The show will run through the end of the 2025-26 regular season, providing a comprehensive look at the teams, coaches, players, and storied tradition of the top basketball conference in America in each episode. To join the conversation and send questions to Rooke (@JRbroadcaster) and McNamara (@KevinMcNamara33), use #TWITBE on Twitter. Fans may submit questions to be featured on the show.  Please subscribe, rate and review to keep #TWITBE top of the podcast charts.

    45 min

  4. FEB 13

    #TWITBE EP. 12.7 - Rick Pitino, KJ Lewis and Zach Braziller

    NEW YORK -- St. John's head coach Rick Pitino, Georgetown guard KJ Lewis, and New York Post and college basketball insider Zach Braziller are the guests on the seventh episode of This Week in the BIG EAST.  Now in its 12th season, This Week In The BIG EAST (#TWITBE) is distributed by Westwood One radio and is available wherever you listen to your favorite podcasts.   This week's BIG EAST Spotlight shines on St. John's head coach Rick Pitino.  The Red Storm have won 10 straight entering this weekend's matchup at Providence and are ranked No. 17 in both polls.  The Naismith Hall of Fame coach recently earned his 904th on-court victory - third most in Division I history - and talks about his views on roster construction, how his Red Storm team continues to evolve, and how much fun he is having coaching and competing in the BIG EAST. Lewis joins the show as this week's BIG EAST Focus.  One of the top all-around players in the country, the Georgetown guard is a standout on both ends of the floor.  He discusses his first season in the BIG EAST, transferring to the Hoyas after spending two seasons at Arizona, and how his game has grown under head coach Ed Cooley. For the National Perspective, New York Post college basketball insider Zach Braziller joins the show to recap last week's epic matchup between UConn and St. John's, his overview on the BIG EAST as the calendar approaches March, and who he views as one of the conference's best players of the century so far. This Week in the BIG EAST is hosted by John Rooke, a longtime play-by-play voice in the league, and Kevin McNamara, radio host, columnist, author, and U.S. Basketball Writers' Hall of Famer.  The show will run through the end of the 2025-26 regular season, providing a comprehensive look at the teams, coaches, players, and storied tradition of the top basketball conference in America in each episode. To join the conversation and send questions to Rooke (@JRbroadcaster) and McNamara (@KevinMcNamara33), use #TWITBE on Twitter. Fans may submit questions to be featured on the show.  Please subscribe, rate and review to keep #TWITBE top of the podcast charts.

    45 min

  5. FEB 6

    #TWITBE EP.12.6 - Richard Pitino, Nigel James Jr. and Tom Crean

    Xavier head coach Richard Pitino, Marquette freshman guard Nigel James Jr., and ESPN analyst and former Marquette head coach Tom Crean are the guests on the sixth episode of This Week in the BIG EAST.  Now in its 12th season, This Week In The BIG EAST (#TWITBE) is distributed by Westwood One radio and is available wherever you listen to your favorite podcasts.   This week's BIG EAST Spotlight shines on Xavier head coach Richard Pitino.  In his first season in Cincinnati, Pitino's high-octane offensive attack has the Musketeers on the fast track to success.  He talks about the process of constructing his roster to compete in a physically demanding league like the BIG EAST and gives his perspective on the league as a whole. James Jr. joins the show as this week's BIG EAST Focus.  One of the top freshmen guards in the country, the Marquette newcomer is an exciting player on both ends of the court.  Originally from Long Island, James Jr. is another in a long like of outstanding New York guards to shine in the BIG EAST.  He joins the podcast to talk about his first collegiate season and what it is like to play under head coach Shaka Smart. For the National Perspective, former Marquette head coach and current ESPN analyst Tom Crean joins the show to provide his thoughts on the BIG EAST season so far.  He was at the helm of the Golden Eagles when they first joined the league 20 years ago in 2005-06.  Crean will be recognized with a banner in the rafters at Fiserv Forum at the Marquette home game vs. Butler on Saturday, Feb. 7 for his many accomplishments during his nine-year tenure in Milwaukee. This Week in the BIG EAST is hosted by John Rooke, a longtime play-by-play voice in the league, and Kevin McNamara, radio host, columnist, author, and U.S. Basketball Writers' Hall of Famer.  The show will run through the end of the 2025-26 regular season, providing a comprehensive look at the teams, coaches, players, and storied tradition of the top basketball conference in America in each episode. To join the conversation and send questions to Rooke (@JRbroadcaster) and McNamara (@KevinMcNamara33), use #TWITBE on Twitter. Fans may submit questions to be featured on the show.  Please subscribe, rate and review to keep #TWITBE top of the podcast charts.

    45 min

  6. JAN 30

    #TWITBE Ep. 12.5 - Kevin Willard, Tarris Reed Jr. and Spero Dedes

    Villanova head coach Kevin Willard, UConn center Tarris Reed Jr., and TNT Sports' play-by-play announcer Spero Dedes are the guests on the fifth episode of This Week in the BIG EAST.  Now in its 12th season, This Week In The BIG EAST (#TWITBE) is distributed by Westwood One radio and is available wherever you listen to your favorite podcasts.   This week's BIG EAST Spotlight shines on Villanova head coach Kevin Willard.  In his first season with the Wildcats - and his 12th season in the BIG EAST - Willard has fast-tracked the rebuilding process on the Main Line.  He talks about the process of building a roster from scratch and how influential former Villanova head coach and Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame Jay Wright was in his decision to return to the league. Reed Jr. joins the show as this week's BIG EAST Focus.  Now in his second season at UConn, the 6-11 senior has emerged as one of the top post players in the country.  He talks about the Huskies' hot start to the 2025-26 season, what it is like to play for head coach Dan Hurley, and rising up to the challenge of lofty expectations in Storrs.  For the National Perspective, TNT Sports' Spero Dedes joins the show to discuss what he has seen so far in his first full season of calling BIG EAST basketball.  Dedes, who has been calling NCAA Tournament games since 2010, provides his thoughts and perspective on the teams and the players in the conference and the impact they will make in March. This Week in the BIG EAST is hosted by John Rooke, a longtime play-by-play voice in the league, and Kevin McNamara, radio host, columnist, author, and U.S. Basketball Writers' Hall of Famer.  The show will run through the end of the 2025-26 regular season, providing a comprehensive look at the teams, coaches, players, and storied tradition of the top basketball conference in America in each episode. To join the conversation and send questions to Rooke (@JRbroadcaster) and McNamara (@KevinMcNamara33), use #TWITBE on Twitter. Fans may submit questions to be featured on the show.  Please subscribe, rate and review to keep #TWITBE top of the podcast charts.

    45 min

  7. JAN 23

    #TWITBE Ep. 12.4 - Austin Swartz, Shaka Smart and Bill Raftery

    NEW YORK -- Creighton guard Austin Swartz, Marquette head coach Shaka Smart, and basketball broadcasting icon Bill Raftery are the guests on the fourth episode of This Week in the BIG EAST.  Now in its 12th season, This Week In The BIG EAST (#TWITBE) is distributed by Westwood One radio and is available wherever you listen to your favorite podcasts.   Swartz joins the show as this week's BIG EAST Focus, hot off a game winner at the buzzer at home over Xavier.  He discussed the transfer process and how he ended up at Creighton after a season at Miami and managing the transition and adjustments needed to play in the Bluejays' system and in the BIG EAST.  This week's BIG EAST Spotlight shines on Shaka Smart - one of four active BIG EAST coaches with a Final Four appearance on his resume.  Now in his fifth season as head coach at Marquette, Smart has guided the Golden Eagles to four NCAA Tournaments, while capturing BIG EAST regular season and tournament titles. For the National Perspective, college basketball broadcasting legend Bill Raftery joins #TWITBE.  The former Seton Hall head coach - now an analyst with FOX and CBS for the NCAA Tournament -  discusses all things BIG EAST, including one of his most iconic calls 38 years ago from Fitzgerald Field House in Pittsburgh. This Week in the BIG EAST is hosted by John Rooke, a longtime play-by-play voice in the league, and Kevin McNamara, radio host, columnist, author, and U.S. Basketball Writers' Hall of Famer.  The show will run through the end of the 2025-26 regular season, providing a comprehensive look at the teams, coaches, players, and storied tradition of the top basketball conference in America in each episode. To join the conversation and send questions to Rooke (@JRbroadcaster) and McNamara (@KevinMcNamara33), use #TWITBE on Twitter. Fans may submit questions to be featured on the show.  Please subscribe, rate and review to keep #TWITBE top of the podcast charts.

    45 min

  8. JAN 16

    #TWITBE Ep. 12.3 - Zuby Ejiofor, Chris Holtmann and Rob Dauster

    St. John's star forward Zuby Ejiofor, DePaul head coach Chris Holtmann, and Rob Dauster from the Field of 68 are the guests on the third episode of This Week in the BIG EAST.  Now in its 12th season, This Week In The BIG EAST (#TWITBE) is distributed by Westwood One radio and is available wherever you listen to your favorite podcasts.   Ejiofor joins the show as this week's BIG EAST Focus, discussing his growth as a player and a leader for St. John's.  The senior forward leads the Red Storm in scoring, rebounding, assists, steals, and blocked shots and is a key part of the Johnnies' run to a deep NCAA Tournament run.   Holtmann is this week's BIG EAST Spotlight.  He has DePaul at 10-7 overall heading into the crux of the BIG EAST schedule.  Holtmann joins the podcast to discuss his second stint as a head coach in the conference and the strides the Blue Demons have made in their rebuilding process.  For the National Perspective, Rob Dauster from the Field of 68 joins the podcast to discuss the league and some of the many highlights from the 2025-26 season so far. This Week in the BIG EAST is hosted by John Rooke, a longtime play-by-play voice in the league, and Kevin McNamara, radio host, columnist, author, and U.S. Basketball Writers' Hall of Famer.  With episode two, the show begins its weekly run through the end of the 2025-26 regular season, providing a comprehensive look at the teams, coaches, players, and storied tradition of the top basketball conference in America in each episode. To join the conversation and send questions to Rooke (@JRbroadcaster) and McNamara (@KevinMcNamara33), use #TWITBE on Twitter. Fans may submit questions to be featured on the show.  Please subscribe, rate and review to keep #TWITBE top of the podcast charts.

    45 min
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About

Now in its 12th season, This Week In The BIG EAST, hosted by Kevin McNamara and John Rooke, is the official podcast of BIG EAST basketball. Kevin, radio host, columnist and author, and John, a longtime play-by-play broadcaster, have combined to cover BIG EAST basketball for over 60 years. The show is a comprehensive look at the teams, coaches, players and storied tradition of the top basketball conference in America, welcoming guests from around the league. #TWITBE also brings sounds of the games – past and present – through @BIGEASTmbb game audio highlights from Butler, UConn, Creighton, DePaul, Georgetown, Marquette, Providence, St. John’s, Seton Hall, Villanova and Xavier. Each episode, John (@JRbroadcaster) and Kevin (@KevinMcNamara33) recap the latest news in the BIG EAST and preview what’s to come. Post questions to John and Kevin on X while tagging #TWITBE. 

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